Target apparatus

Abstract

Provided is a target apparatus of high durability so that a thin film is not deformed or damaged under an environment of high temperature and high pressure generated during a nuclear reaction between proton and H218O concentrate, and a productivity of 18F can be increased. The target apparatus includes a cavity member having a cavity, in which H218O concentrate is received, for producing 18F using a nuclear reaction between proton irradiated onto the H218O concentrate in the cavity and the H218O concentrate. The cavity member includes: a front opening and a rear opening facing opposite directions to each other on the irradiation path of the proton, and connected to the cavity so that the cavity can be communicated with the outside; a front thin film and a rear thin film disposed to block the front opening and the rear opening, respectively; and a front reinforcing member and a rear reinforcing member coupled to the cavity member so as to support the front thin film and the rear thin film in order to prevent the front and rear thin films from being swelled due to a pressure rising in the cavity during the nuclear reaction, wherein the front reinforcing member includes a plurality of penetration holes penetrating the front reinforcing member in the irradiation direction of the proton.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2005-0053562, filed on Jun. 21, 2005, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to a target apparatus, and more particularly, to a target apparatus having an improved structure so that a thin film is not deformed or damaged under an environment of high pressure and high temperature generated when a nuclear reaction between proton and H218O concentrate occurs. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] Positron Emission Tomographys (PETs) can be widely used to diagnose tumors and a variety of diseases in advance. [0006] A range of diagnosis using the PET is being expanded, and accordingly, proton emitting radio-pharmaceutical marking various proton emitting isotopes are being devel...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014] The present invention provides a target apparatus having an improved structure so that a thin film is not deformed or damaged under an environment of high temperature and high pressure generated during a nuclear reaction between proton and H218O concentrate, and a productivity of 18F can be increased.

[0015] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a target apparatus including: a cavity member having a cavity, in which H218O concentrate is received, for producing 18F using a nuclear reaction between proton irradiated onto the H218O concentrate in the cavity and the H218O concentrate, wherein the cavity member includes: a front opening and a rear opening facing opposite directions to each other on the irradiation path of the proton, and connected to the cavity so that the cavity can be communicated with the outside; a front thin film and a rear thin film disposed to block the front opening and the rear opening, respectively; and a front reinforcing member and a rear reinforcing member coupled to the cavity member so as to support the front thin film and the rear thin film in order to prevent the front and rear thin films from being swelled due to a pressure rising in the cavity during the nuclear reaction, wherein the front reinforcing member includes a plurality of penetration holes penetrating the front reinforcing member in the irradiation direction of the proton.

Problems solved by technology

In addition, due to the limitation in the cooling performance, the temperature of the H218O concentrate rises rapidly during the nuclear reaction between the proton and the H218O concentrate, and a phase transformation of the H218O concentrate accompanied with rising of pressure under the high temperature occurs.

Moreover, if the loads are applied to the thin film 73 repeatedly when the target apparatus 1 is continuously used, the thin film 73 may be damaged.

Then, an amount of the H218O concentrate that should fill the cavity 71 is increased as much as the swelled amount of the thin film 73, and thus, since the price of H218O concentrate is expensive, the increase of the H218O concentrate causes an increase in the fabrication costs of 18F.

Therefore, desired amount of 18F cannot be produced.

In addition, more heat is generated when the proton is irradiated to H218O vapor than when the proton is irradiated to the liquid H218O concentrate, and thus, the temperature and pressure in the cavity 71 are increased and the thin film 73 may be damaged easily.

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